Thank you so much for the really nice video! I just watched your video about how you moved there and never looked back. I had the chance to stay in the Netherlands for 2 months last summer. As a 20 something year old from the Deep South, I never felt more happy and free to just be myself. I’m really happy you got the chance to find a better life in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
@@kerby132 Thank you so much for your good words. I hope you have an opportunity to come back to the Netherlands. That feeling of freedom is worth the world. No matter where you may find yourself, I hope you find your happiness. Thanks again for watching and commenting. ❤️
Hey Mike, dutchy here. I love that you talked about more than healthcare. Like the partij voor de dieren en euthanasia freedoms. Loved this video, lovely voice to listen to. 🧡
Thanks for sharing your experiences, would love a bit more Haarlem specific content as it seems very rare. I'll be moving there from Amsterdam and would be super to get a locals perspective.
@@kayoh989 Thank you, and thanks for the excellent suggestion. ❤️ I love Haarlem and would be happy to share my experiences of living in this remarkable city. I wish you all the best with your move. Welkom in Haarlem! 😊
I love that you also talked about animal rights, euthanasia etc. Topics other people on youtube don't often talk about. I am personally glad that my mother (who was terminally ill) was able to choose euthanasia. In many other countries, she'd have no other option but to increasingly suffer until it ended.
I can relate to that. My mother was also terminally ill from cancer and she choose euthanasia, so she didn't have to suffer to the end and she was also able to keep her dignity. Of course the day she died was a sad day, yet it was also a relief for herself and for the people who loved her.
@@stefan335 Thank you for your comment. I am grateful that the Netherlands is progressive enough to offer the option of euthanasia. My beloved colleagues were able to transition on their own terms with decency and dignity. My condolences for the loss of your mother. ❤️
@@BetterTogether-UnIr1 Its sad to see humans suffer so hard in there last days on Earth. But we can,t handle it if our pet is suffering,so we do help that poor animal.
Thank you for reminding us complaining Dutchies that our country, while certainly not perfect, really isn't all that terrible, especially given the alternatives out there. ;)
@@marcelv.birgelen2166 My absolute pleasure. No country or system is perfect, but I think the Netherlands comes darn close. It is a privilege to live here. Thank you for watching and commenting. ❤️
Het Hofje van Bakenes is uit de 14e eeuw. Gelegen aan.....de Bakenessergracht, dicht bij het Spaarne. De Sint Bavo is (start) uit de 13e eeuw. Daar langs liep vroeger De Beek. De uitgang/ monding is te zien in de kade bij de Waag.
I moved to Haarlem 23 yrs ago , it’s one of the best places ever…Holland is a very civilised country , for instance there are no stray dogs 😊I am proud of this small but big country
@@barbaraferri5584 I am with you. We have every reason to be proud of this “small but big country”. Well said. Like you, I applaud the Dutch on their humane treatment and respect of animals. It is a testament to their true civility. 🐈⬛ 🐕
@@gertstolk You got that right! It seems to me that affordable healthcare is a basic human right. The US would be well served to follow the Dutch lead.
@@Xynyx1 Hi there.👋 I’ve been to Enschede several times. My husband lived there nearly 30 years ago when he first came to the country. We still have friends there. I’ve never been to Westerhaar, but will check it out the next time I’m in the region.
I was about to write a similar thing that homelessness has been on the rise and sharply. Maybe not in the area where most expats/ internationals have their homes in Haarlem or Amsterdam. Housing prices buy/ rent are for a lot off people with a regular income out of reach.
1. Balance. Yes. At 5:30 pm one door closes and another opens. And No calls, or texts, from work accepted. Everybody knows that. 2. Hierarchy. I worked for a global pharma company and we had a diverse structure with people having different specializations. My expertise was accepted. Also by managers higher up on the corporate ladder. No discussions. 3. Weather. Being retired, we're fortunate to be able to live in Mexico during winter and live in The Netherlands in summer. My wife is Mexican and I'm Dutch. That's why.
@@qualitytraders5333 Wonderful that you spend your winters in Mexico! And what a coincidence. My partner of 21 years (and husband of 6 years) is Mexican. It is a dream of ours to spend our winters in sunny Mexico when we retire. Such warm and friendly people there. And the food! The mere mention of Tacos Al Pastor makes me salivate. 🌮 Where in Mexico do you spend your winters, if I may ask? 🇲🇽🇳🇱 ❤️
Hi Mike, as a guide for many years I always love to hear commentaries about the Netherlands. Yes also the bad ones.. foreigners teach one to look at one’s own country with different eyes.. and it helps me in my work! I like your description a lot because it’s a tiny bit of a deeper look into that culture of ours like f. I. your emphasis on the healthcare system.. which indeed is amazing.. people here talk about when chatting about America a lot about that difference in healthcare costs in amazement, and have a hard time to believe that things are so bad over there.. enough about that. What I do miss so far in all commentaries, also in yours is a deeper look into the media over here.. and I am not talking about TH-cam and all that.. nor the commercial stations, but rather about the daily radio and tv programming over here because that’s what in the end influences people’s opinions the most apart from their upbringing, schooling and all that, isn’t it? I’m asking because also there in is a big difference with not only America but also with other European countries..
@@SUMERUP Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. I learn so much from viewers like you, and I appreciate what you say about Dutch media. I agree that we are influenced by the media we choose to consume. You inspire me to consider the distinctive approach taken by the Dutch in this regard. Thank you for watching and thank you again for taking the time to leave a considered comment. 👍
Hi Richard - I’m not sure of your specifics, but there is a lot of information online (and on TH-cam) about coming to the Netherlands and/or relocating to Haarlem. www.government.nl/topics/immigration-to-the-netherlands/question-and-answer/what-do-i-need-to-arrange-if-i’m-moving-to-the-netherlands or www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/checklist-relocating-netherlands-immigration I wish you the best. 😊
As a child i have been homeless, long long ago. It makes me look differently than you: i see many homeless ppl. Since the eightes the numbers have grown. The homeless know to find me, asking for money, probably bc i look easy to approach. It is not one group, some are addicts, many are from abroad, but also ppl with jobs have no home e.g. when they are divorced. Divorced women with children live in a car. Many youngsters have no home either, e.g. when you fall under the care system they kick you out when you are 18. When you know, you see.
@@margreetdoodeman1441 Thank you for your insight. I stand corrected, and I appreciate you taking the time to expand my consciousness on this subject. “When you know, you see.” Profound words. Thank you again for your comment. ❤️
@BetterTogether-UnIr1 just remembered: i used to work in Vogelenzang, took the train to Heemstede Aerdenhout. The NS closed the waiting room there bc of the homeless using it. This was in the middle of the nineties. But that is one of the places where they hang around, stations, if they do not have a car.
Nice video. But after 20 years. and with dual citizenship and no intention to ever return, the term "expat" doesn't really really suit you anymore, now does it? 🙂
Hi again Mike! While I'm still very slowly catching up with your videos (and having a great time doing so!)... So much in your videos to respond to, if only I had more time... One question I really want to ask you before anything else. Did you have any prior experience producing and or editing videos when you started your channel? If not; I think you're absolutely a "Natural". So many more questions, but before I get started on those too let me go see if you've already answered this one somewhere...
@@yaldenskigaming5371 Howdy! No, I had no previous experience producing/editing videos. I’m a complete newbie…learning as I go. Thanks for watching all my videos and thanks for the compliment. 😊
@@BetterTogether-UnIr1 Good morning Mike! Oh wait! Afternoon now, dangit! Anyway: I'd kind of forgotten/not realized that watching (and commenting on) your videos would include reading all the previous comments, so this morning I watched the "Dutch voices" one, commented on your Eddie van Halen comment and edited my comment several times before finding that someone else had already made a very similar comment a week earlier. I guess TH-cam then decided that I'd edited my comment too often (and deleted it?) So basically I'm not really sure what finally happened to my comment but I don't see it anymore. I'm going to stop commenting for a while now mostly because I have too many other things to take care of first. So for now, I wish you a great Sunday and; Happy New Year!
@ Hey there! Thank you for taking the time to comment. I don’t know what happened to your Eddie van Halen comment. I’ve noticed that my TH-cam comments don’t always take. Maybe you wanted to say that EvH is not a singer. Better to refer to him as a musician, I realize. He did sing backup for the band and, on one track, he sang lead. Still, the Dutch can be proud of their contribution to music. I am so grateful that you are watching my videos, and I am glad that this comment got through. I wish you a good Sunday, too, and all the best in the New Year. 😊
@@BetterTogether-UnIr1 Yes, I keep forgetting that I'd already determined for myself that TH-cam is great for sharing and watching videos, not so much optimized for extended conversations in the comments section, but this is your channel which I'm obviously finding very (too!?) difficult to resist... so...
About the cost of healthcare you should understand that your employer will also pay up to six percent of your salary to pay extra for healthcare for the healthinsurers and the mandatory wage premiums for low term care (that used to exist) have been moved to the first tax bracket giving a high tax rate for that first tax bracket. Effectively you will get a little lower pay in the Netherlands because the employer also payes for your healthcare (plus unemployment premiums). You may only pay 150 a month here in the Netherlands but healthcare at the Dutch level is not cheap and everybody should understand that the rest of the cost is coming from employers and your high taxerates. Indepent workers that do not have an employer have to pay a 5,5% premium of their income for healthinsurance independant of their healthcare premium each month.
Everyone knows it's not literally free but that is how it feels, because you do not pay 1000 euros or 30000 euros for a treatments. We all pay healthcare that is what changes it. If only a few people have health insurance it will be much more expensive a month. My employer doesn't pay healthcare. I don't know where you get that from. Taxes are a better system that is the point. In US people also pay taxes by the way haha, so it is not that they don't pay taxes and their companies at times pay a certain amount of the health insurance costs of their employees, but lots also don't. I think that depends on the salary. Low paid people often don't get that in the USA, and it is often people with lower salaries that get more issues with their health because of the fact that they can not buy as much and can not buy the more expensive healthier food.
@@-_YouMayFind_- Exactly but I wanted to expllaine how it works that you pay so little for great healthcare. The costs are stil high but the system puts the burden on everyone. Also worth mentioning is that getting a policy at an healthinsurer is mandatory for everyone but children do not pay for the insurance untill 18 If you do not get an insurance of fail to pay a central organization wil collect it from your employers/benefits first (including a fine) as a preferred debt collector. It is extremely hard to get away from paying healthinsurance
Hahaha, I live in a city with 40,000 people - what would you call that? A village? But whenever I find myself in bigger cities with more people, I just want to get back home to where things are peaceful and quiet. There are lots of people around around 5/6pm, and then it quiets down again. I also live along a 'busy' road, but after a certain time (and before a certain time), you won't hear any cars passing. So yes, I also consider Haarlem to be a bustling metropolis! :D
@@seakr_7o9 Thanks for your comment. I guess everything is relative. I grew up on an island in the Chesapeake Bay with - at the time - a population of 10,000, so I am no stranger to peace and quiet. Your life sounds idyllic to me. 🌳 Thanks again for watching and commenting.
@@BetterTogether-UnIr1 Yes, I guess everything is indeed relative. And you are welcome! Also I love your glas in lood!! They are stunning! And your hat is surely iconic! ✨
I think not being homeless because of the healthcare bills is not just part of the healthcare system but because our country is full of safety nets. If you cant pay, you can make arrangements with any organization and they will never just kick you out. That is really something that amazes me about the us, if you hit a small roadblock in life it gets from bad to worse in no time. While here in the netherlands that just wont happen and thats also what we pay taxes for, which i dont mind. People should need to lose everything in life because one bad thing happens.
@@tombloos3996 I wholeheartedly agree. It boggles my mind that in the US (one of the wealthiest nations in the world) so many of its citizens fall through the cracks and are left behind. In many ways, the US has lost its way. Thanks for your comment, and thank you for watching. ❤️
@@DutchWeazel Yes, I know. 😊 I was referencing two other American place names that originate from Dutch. Broadway from “Brede weg”. And Wall Street ”…werd oorspronkelijk Waalstraat of Walstraat genoemd”. 🇳🇱 🇺🇸
What a beautiful tribute to our cherished nation. Over the past twenty years, you have witnessed so much. While nothing is perfect, and the The Dutch are known for their candid feedback. Overall, we have accomplished a great deal. I lived abroad myself for quite some time, but I can't stop comparing things to what I am used to. Blessed to be Dutch, although we are far from a religious nation. My second home is Costa Rica. It's the perfect combination for me.
@@viderethevaccinatorfromhol7536 Thank you so much for your comment. Indeed, I have seen a lot over the last 20 years. It’s true that no country or system is perfect. But the Netherlands comes darn close. I am so grateful to be here. Thanks again for watching. 😊
Today healthcare costs are about €7,000 per person/year. The typical monthly premium paid by citizens covers only about 1/3 of that, and the rest is covered via income tax. Furthermore, there is a smaller amount of healthcare, e.g., own risk and not covered medicine and treatments that are not covered by the insurance. Furthermore, most of the dental costs for adults are not covered by the insurance unless citizens pay an extra premium.
You forget to mention the pigs in their terrible factory situations, an intelligent animal who has a non life and burn regularly in their tiny pens, the cows who never see sunlight or grass, these are also animals with feelings, not just cats or dogs. There are also lots of other not so good things, which as a Dutch person made me leave the Netherlands
@@hvanderp578 Thank you for raising these issues. Cruelty in all forms (and to all animals) is unconscionable and a hallmark of ignorance. In another video, I have said that “no country is a utopia; no system is perfect. That is because all countries, all systems have one thing in common, and that is people. And as people, we are flawed”. If I may ask, where did you go after leaving the Netherlands, and do you find the grass greener on the other side, as the saying goes?
Because you asked: I am Dutch, and I only started to appreciate the many benefits of living in this country after watching TH-cam video's from people who were born elsewhere, especially in the US and Canada. So thank you for sharing your thoughts. And you're most welcome!
Very nice video, again...😊 However I would like to add for non-Dutch people: euthanasia is for people who are either deadly ill or beyond the point where they want to continue their lives (fot instance paralysed and no chance of ever being able to live without a whole lot of machinery). It hardly happens and a doctor can refuse at all times. It is a very lengthy process. Even for our pets, the law changed. Years ago people could ask for euthanasia for their pet if they could not afford an operation or other reason they deemed important. Nowadays you will have to sign over your pet and pay a certain amount of money. Pets are considered like children here, part of the family and that also means medical care. Luckily there is insurance for dogs and cats. My thumbnail show my (deceased) little girl who was very unfortunate with her health. Without the insurance I would never have been able to adopt her. The cost of a pet can be very high. Party for animals is also (or more) about the bio-industry. Thanks to them we have animal-police now...and pigs are being sedated before certain parts are being cut off (keeping it civilised here 😂) By the way I saw your first video that showed more of your lovely small, ' benedenwoning'. Greetings again...❤
@@annemieke186 Hi Annemieke. 👋 Thank you for the compliment, and thank you for providing more background about euthanasia. I am sorry that your little girl is gone (I have often admired her photo. What a darling!). I know how hard it is to part with our little loved ones. I recently had to let go of my beloved cat, Stripe, who was 17 years old. Most of my years here, he was with me. I think of him every day. 🐈⬛ Our animal companions are absolutely part of our family and a big part of our hearts. ❤️ I’m glad that you had a glimpse of my little benedenwoning, which dates from 1901. I love living in it. 🏡
Alsjeblieft Mike. Wees geen typische anglo-saxen. Als je 20 jaar in een ander land woont ben je geen expat. Je bent migrant. Auto's in de VS zijn alleen maar onmisbaar omdat de stadsindeling slecht en autogericht is. Prima video. Keep - em coming.
Thank you. I stand corrected. In a more recent video, you will note that I refer to myself, correctly, as an immigrant. 😊 th-cam.com/video/3sibMbnKxcw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=OpiFd2C-rV7moH14 You’re right about the design (and scale) of American cities. They are not designed for pedestrians and cyclists, sadly. Thanks again for your comment. 👍
It's not that I disagree with this video but it lacks some nuance. Abortion and euthanasia are strictly regulated. I think the big difference is religion. While the Dutch try to live with different points of view (religious or not) there is this understanding of the meaning of 'choice'. Nobody's forcing you and the government facilitates your choice. It's difficult to understand and I can understand this view of "freedom". But just the idea you are at work and knowing your cousin is dying at that moment? Or "the moment" being postponed for a week? How to deal with that? I don't think it's about tolerance but about accepting. Can you have friends with different opinions and agree to disagree? How to deal with personal emotions if some relatives decides to euthanasia? It is still emotional. But with understanding.
@@Wamubodo Thank you for your insight and clarifications. With regard to euthanasia, I only meant to point out that it is an option (which I regard as humane) in the Netherlands. This is, unfortunately, not the case for most of the United States. It is, without a doubt, an emotionally charged choice, as you have noted. I appreciate your feedback. Thank you. 🙏
Are you aware of the History of New Amsterdam/Netherlands and that we owned Manhatten, bought from the Lenape Indians in about 1624, read the books of Russell Shorto.
Better make a list of things you don't like about our little country... or we are going to need a bigger country 😁 and abut the weather. By now you must know that the Dutch need something to complain about.
@@MrVandype Haha. Actually, I did make a list of things I love less about the Netherlands (the weather made that list, too). There must be two sides to every story, as they say. Thanks for watching, and thanks for your comment. 👍
Binnen(shuis) hoor je inderdaad been hoofddeksel te dragen. Maar je, het is zijn huis. Ik had ooit een werkgever die tegen een stageloper zei dat hij toch zijn petje af moest doen.
It's not only good manners, it's essential when you are living in the Netherlands. This guy said that it's easy to be lazy because everyone speaks English, totally disregarding that a lot of Dutch people CAN speak English but really do not WANT to speak it in their free time. Most of the times a conversation will start in English but end in Dutch, because native speakers will always fall back on the language they grew up with.
Both. Expat (short for expatriot), as in somebody who left his country of origin. Immigrant, as in he came here from abroad, and integrated into Dutch society. Two sides of the same coin.
@@remcovanvliet3018 “A business expatriate, she says, is a legally working individual who resides temporarily in a country of which they are not a citizen, in order to accomplish a career-related goal (no matter the pay or skill level) - someone who has relocated abroad either by an organisation, by themselves or been directly employed by their host country.” And “Immigrants are usually defined as people who have come to a different country in order to live there permanently, whereas expats move abroad for a limited amount of time or have not yet decided upon the length of their stay,” I mean he’s been living here for more than 20 years and started his life here without a career goal and has Dutch citizenship ship now. That makes you an immigrant and not an expat. Btw, in my opinion there’s nothing wrong with immigration, although I sometimes get annoyed by people from western backgrounds who place themselves above other immigrants by calling themselves expats.
@@remcovanvliet3018 I know what 'expat' means, it's used by white/western/rich people who are uncomfortable with the word 'immigrant'. There is no real distinction, but the fact that a distinction is made is racist.
Thank you so much for the really nice video! I just watched your video about how you moved there and never looked back. I had the chance to stay in the Netherlands for 2 months last summer. As a 20 something year old from the Deep South, I never felt more happy and free to just be myself. I’m really happy you got the chance to find a better life in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Come back!
Welcome any time, bro.
@@kerby132 Thank you so much for your good words. I hope you have an opportunity to come back to the Netherlands. That feeling of freedom is worth the world. No matter where you may find yourself, I hope you find your happiness. Thanks again for watching and commenting. ❤️
Mooie glas-in-lood deuren
@@j.vanderson6239 Bedankt. Ik hou van mijn kleine benedenhuis. 🏠
Lovely kamer-en-suite, Nice lichting and colours
@@paddoxmeij7359 Thank you very much. That is very kind of you to say so. ❤️
Hey Mike, dutchy here. I love that you talked about more than healthcare. Like the partij voor de dieren en euthanasia freedoms. Loved this video, lovely voice to listen to. 🧡
@@DaniëllaKL1970 Hi there. So sweet of you to say. Thank you so much for your encouraging words. I’m glad you liked the video. 😊
I absolutely love those glass panels. So beautiful.
@@andreavantzet1962 Thank you so much. Very kind of you to say so. I love old Dutch houses. My benedenwoning is from 1901. ❤️ 🏠
Thanks for sharing your experiences, would love a bit more Haarlem specific content as it seems very rare. I'll be moving there from Amsterdam and would be super to get a locals perspective.
@@kayoh989 Thank you, and thanks for the excellent suggestion. ❤️ I love Haarlem and would be happy to share my experiences of living in this remarkable city. I wish you all the best with your move. Welkom in Haarlem! 😊
I love that you also talked about animal rights, euthanasia etc. Topics other people on youtube don't often talk about. I am personally glad that my mother (who was terminally ill) was able to choose euthanasia. In many other countries, she'd have no other option but to increasingly suffer until it ended.
I can relate to that. My mother was also terminally ill from cancer and she choose euthanasia, so she didn't have to suffer to the end and she was also able to keep her dignity. Of course the day she died was a sad day, yet it was also a relief for herself and for the people who loved her.
@@stefan335 Thank you for your comment. I am grateful that the Netherlands is progressive enough to offer the option of euthanasia. My beloved colleagues were able to transition on their own terms with decency and dignity. My condolences for the loss of your mother. ❤️
@@DecibelDr My condolences for your loss. Thank you for sharing your story in this comment. We are blessed to live in such a progressive country. ❤️
@@BetterTogether-UnIr1
Its sad to see humans suffer so hard in there last days on Earth.
But we can,t handle it if our pet is suffering,so we do help that poor animal.
@@RedbadvanRijn-ft3vv That is the point, we grant animals a humane end, so why should humans suffer like beasts before the end?
Thank you for reminding us complaining Dutchies that our country, while certainly not perfect, really isn't all that terrible, especially given the alternatives out there. ;)
@@marcelv.birgelen2166 My absolute pleasure. No country or system is perfect, but I think the Netherlands comes darn close. It is a privilege to live here. Thank you for watching and commenting. ❤️
Het Hofje van Bakenes is uit de 14e eeuw. Gelegen aan.....de Bakenessergracht, dicht bij het Spaarne. De Sint Bavo is (start) uit de 13e eeuw. Daar langs liep vroeger De Beek. De uitgang/ monding is te zien in de kade bij de Waag.
😊
I moved to Haarlem 23 yrs ago , it’s one of the best places ever…Holland is a very civilised country , for instance there are no stray dogs 😊I am proud of this small but big country
@@barbaraferri5584 I am with you. We have every reason to be proud of this “small but big country”. Well said. Like you, I applaud the Dutch on their humane treatment and respect of animals. It is a testament to their true civility. 🐈⬛ 🐕
Americans always brag about their freedom, but I think the Dutch are truly free not having to worry about things like affordable healthcare 🤔
@@gertstolk You got that right! It seems to me that affordable healthcare is a basic human right. The US would be well served to follow the Dutch lead.
@@BetterTogether-UnIr1affordable??
@smearpipe You do realise that a visit to a hospital in the US can actually bankrupt a household, right? 🤷
Americans have freedoms TO, Dutch (and other Europeans) have freedoms FROM.
@@apveening This is fascinating. Very astute. I want to give this further thought. Thanks for the comment.
Wanneer kom je eens naar Twente ? Enschede, Hengelo, of als je een dorp wilt, Westerhaar ?
@@Xynyx1 Hi there.👋 I’ve been to Enschede several times. My husband lived there nearly 30 years ago when he first came to the country. We still have friends there. I’ve never been to Westerhaar, but will check it out the next time I’m in the region.
@@BetterTogether-UnIr1 Leuk ! Komt je echtgenoot ook uit de USA ? Mocht je eens in Westerhaar zijn ; de koffie staat klaar ;)
@ Dank u wel! ❤️☕️ My husband was born in Mexico. 🇲🇽
Oldest building in Haarlem is from around 1250. On the main square, de Hoofdwacht close to the statue of Coster.
I love Haarlem too. I just visited the Christmas market - nice!
@@jetfromholland4533 Wonderful! I was there yesterday. Glad you got to see it.
Hi, I am born in Haarlem, Maxwellstraat 20 1947. Now I live in Guadeloupe, Salut de Gwada, Wouter
@@wouterschijf47 Hi Wouter. Thanks for your comment. I promise to take good care of your birth city while you are away. 😃
I was about to write a similar thing that homelessness has been on the rise and sharply.
Maybe not in the area where most expats/ internationals have their homes in Haarlem or Amsterdam. Housing prices buy/ rent are for a lot off people with a regular income out of reach.
@@SoloonaCruise Thank you for providing additional perspective to this issue. I appreciate your feedback. 👍
I love your home! Very pretty
@@dorinefennema9325 Thank you Dorine. Very sweet of you to say. ❤️
It is so true: the Netherlands are a paradise for bikers! In Belgium we are trying to improve the infrastructure but there is still some way ro go.
@@Annemie43 I have loved riding my bike ever since I was a kid. ❤️
1. Balance. Yes. At 5:30 pm one door closes and another opens. And No calls, or texts, from work accepted. Everybody knows that. 2. Hierarchy. I worked for a global pharma company and we had a diverse structure with people having different specializations. My expertise was accepted. Also by managers higher up on the corporate ladder. No discussions. 3. Weather. Being retired, we're fortunate to be able to live in Mexico during winter and live in The Netherlands in summer. My wife is Mexican and I'm Dutch. That's why.
@@qualitytraders5333 Wonderful that you spend your winters in Mexico! And what a coincidence. My partner of 21 years (and husband of 6 years) is Mexican. It is a dream of ours to spend our winters in sunny Mexico when we retire. Such warm and friendly people there. And the food! The mere mention of Tacos Al Pastor makes me salivate. 🌮 Where in Mexico do you spend your winters, if I may ask? 🇲🇽🇳🇱 ❤️
Hi Mike, as a guide for many years I always love to hear commentaries about the Netherlands. Yes also the bad ones.. foreigners teach one to look at one’s own country with different eyes.. and it helps me in my work! I like your description a lot because it’s a tiny bit of a deeper look into that culture of ours like f. I. your emphasis on the healthcare system.. which indeed is amazing.. people here talk about when chatting about America a lot about that difference in healthcare costs in amazement, and have a hard time to believe that things are so bad over there.. enough about that. What I do miss so far in all commentaries, also in yours is a deeper look into the media over here.. and I am not talking about TH-cam and all that.. nor the commercial stations, but rather about the daily radio and tv programming over here because that’s what in the end influences people’s opinions the most apart from their upbringing, schooling and all that, isn’t it? I’m asking because also there in is a big difference with not only America but also with other European countries..
@@SUMERUP Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. I learn so much from viewers like you, and I appreciate what you say about Dutch media. I agree that we are influenced by the media we choose to consume. You inspire me to consider the distinctive approach taken by the Dutch in this regard. Thank you for watching and thank you again for taking the time to leave a considered comment. 👍
I am relocating to Haarlem. Can you help?
Hi Richard - I’m not sure of your specifics, but there is a lot of information online (and on TH-cam) about coming to the Netherlands and/or relocating to Haarlem. www.government.nl/topics/immigration-to-the-netherlands/question-and-answer/what-do-i-need-to-arrange-if-i’m-moving-to-the-netherlands or www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/checklist-relocating-netherlands-immigration I wish you the best. 😊
As a child i have been homeless, long long ago. It makes me look differently than you: i see many homeless ppl. Since the eightes the numbers have grown. The homeless know to find me, asking for money, probably bc i look easy to approach. It is not one group, some are addicts, many are from abroad, but also ppl with jobs have no home e.g. when they are divorced. Divorced women with children live in a car. Many youngsters have no home either, e.g. when you fall under the care system they kick you out when you are 18. When you know, you see.
@@margreetdoodeman1441 Thank you for your insight. I stand corrected, and I appreciate you taking the time to expand my consciousness on this subject. “When you know, you see.” Profound words. Thank you again for your comment. ❤️
@BetterTogether-UnIr1 just remembered: i used to work in Vogelenzang, took the train to Heemstede Aerdenhout. The NS closed the waiting room there bc of the homeless using it. This was in the middle of the nineties. But that is one of the places where they hang around, stations, if they do not have a car.
An Indian friend said once to me: "We have the sacred cows on the street, with you
Dutch it's the cyclists.
@@starlight27277 Indeed! More bikes than people! 😮
Leuke vlog Mike!
Thank you so much for your encouraging words. ❤️
Nice video. But after 20 years. and with dual citizenship and no intention to ever return, the term "expat" doesn't really really suit you anymore, now does it? 🙂
Haal die c even weg.
Thank you. At this stage, I can just as well say “citizen”. 😊
Hi again Mike! While I'm still very slowly catching up with your videos (and having a great time doing so!)... So much in your videos to respond to, if only I had more time... One question I really want to ask you before anything else. Did you have any prior experience producing and or editing videos when you started your channel? If not; I think you're absolutely a "Natural". So many more questions, but before I get started on those too let me go see if you've already answered this one somewhere...
@@yaldenskigaming5371 Howdy! No, I had no previous experience producing/editing videos. I’m a complete newbie…learning as I go. Thanks for watching all my videos and thanks for the compliment. 😊
@@BetterTogether-UnIr1 Good morning Mike! Oh wait! Afternoon now, dangit! Anyway: I'd kind of forgotten/not realized that watching (and commenting on) your videos would include reading all the previous comments, so this morning I watched the "Dutch voices" one, commented on your Eddie van Halen comment and edited my comment several times before finding that someone else had already made a very similar comment a week earlier. I guess TH-cam then decided that I'd edited my comment too often (and deleted it?) So basically I'm not really sure what finally happened to my comment but I don't see it anymore. I'm going to stop commenting for a while now mostly because I have too many other things to take care of first. So for now, I wish you a great Sunday and; Happy New Year!
@ Hey there! Thank you for taking the time to comment. I don’t know what happened to your Eddie van Halen comment. I’ve noticed that my TH-cam comments don’t always take. Maybe you wanted to say that EvH is not a singer. Better to refer to him as a musician, I realize. He did sing backup for the band and, on one track, he sang lead. Still, the Dutch can be proud of their contribution to music. I am so grateful that you are watching my videos, and I am glad that this comment got through. I wish you a good Sunday, too, and all the best in the New Year. 😊
@@BetterTogether-UnIr1 Yes, I keep forgetting that I'd already determined for myself that TH-cam is great for sharing and watching videos, not so much optimized for extended conversations in the comments section, but this is your channel which I'm obviously finding very (too!?) difficult to resist... so...
@ Well, thanks so much again. I certainly appreciate your enthusiasm. 😊
About the cost of healthcare you should understand that your employer will also pay up to six percent of your salary to pay extra for healthcare for the healthinsurers and the mandatory wage premiums for low term care (that used to exist) have been moved to the first tax bracket giving a high tax rate for that first tax bracket.
Effectively you will get a little lower pay in the Netherlands because the employer also payes for your healthcare (plus unemployment premiums).
You may only pay 150 a month here in the Netherlands but healthcare at the Dutch level is not cheap and everybody should understand that the rest of the cost is coming from employers and your high taxerates.
Indepent workers that do not have an employer have to pay a 5,5% premium of their income for healthinsurance independant of their healthcare premium each month.
Everyone knows it's not literally free but that is how it feels, because you do not pay 1000 euros or 30000 euros for a treatments. We all pay healthcare that is what changes it. If only a few people have health insurance it will be much more expensive a month. My employer doesn't pay healthcare. I don't know where you get that from. Taxes are a better system that is the point. In US people also pay taxes by the way haha, so it is not that they don't pay taxes and their companies at times pay a certain amount of the health insurance costs of their employees, but lots also don't. I think that depends on the salary. Low paid people often don't get that in the USA, and it is often people with lower salaries that get more issues with their health because of the fact that they can not buy as much and can not buy the more expensive healthier food.
@@-_YouMayFind_- Exactly but I wanted to expllaine how it works that you pay so little for great healthcare. The costs are stil high but the system puts the burden on everyone.
Also worth mentioning is that getting a policy at an healthinsurer is mandatory for everyone but children do not pay for the insurance untill 18
If you do not get an insurance of fail to pay a central organization wil collect it from your employers/benefits first (including a fine) as a preferred debt collector. It is extremely hard to get away from paying healthinsurance
Thank you for providing some additional background on this subject. 👍
Hahaha, I live in a city with 40,000 people - what would you call that? A village? But whenever I find myself in bigger cities with more people, I just want to get back home to where things are peaceful and quiet. There are lots of people around around 5/6pm, and then it quiets down again. I also live along a 'busy' road, but after a certain time (and before a certain time), you won't hear any cars passing. So yes, I also consider Haarlem to be a bustling metropolis! :D
@@seakr_7o9 Thanks for your comment. I guess everything is relative. I grew up on an island in the Chesapeake Bay with - at the time - a population of 10,000, so I am no stranger to peace and quiet. Your life sounds idyllic to me. 🌳 Thanks again for watching and commenting.
@@BetterTogether-UnIr1 Yes, I guess everything is indeed relative. And you are welcome! Also I love your glas in lood!! They are stunning! And your hat is surely iconic! ✨
Nice video!
@@joanrobijn4118 Thank you for watching, and thank you for your comment. ❤️
I think not being homeless because of the healthcare bills is not just part of the healthcare system but because our country is full of safety nets. If you cant pay, you can make arrangements with any organization and they will never just kick you out. That is really something that amazes me about the us, if you hit a small roadblock in life it gets from bad to worse in no time. While here in the netherlands that just wont happen and thats also what we pay taxes for, which i dont mind. People should need to lose everything in life because one bad thing happens.
@@tombloos3996 I wholeheartedly agree. It boggles my mind that in the US (one of the wealthiest nations in the world) so many of its citizens fall through the cracks and are left behind. In many ways, the US has lost its way. Thanks for your comment, and thank you for watching. ❤️
From Haarlem to Breukelen!, haha.
@@DutchWeazel From Broadway to Wall Street! 😆
@BetterTogether-UnIr1
I said from Harlem to Brooklyn, but it was the Dutch version 😄
@@DutchWeazel Yes, I know. 😊 I was referencing two other American place names that originate from Dutch. Broadway from “Brede weg”. And Wall Street ”…werd oorspronkelijk Waalstraat of Walstraat genoemd”. 🇳🇱 🇺🇸
@@BetterTogether-UnIr1 It's new year's day, I was a bit slow, haha.
What about this one: Yankees / Jan Kees
@ Ah, yes, Yankees…from Jan Kees, I think. That’s another good one. Happy New Year, by the way! I hope you had plenty of oliebollen! 😃
Van wie is dat stadsgezicht boven je deur? Het Spaarne in Haarlem met molen de Adriaan, maar verder kom ik niet!
@weiareinboud6990 What sharp eyes you have! The painting is: de originele Adriaan, aan het Spaarne te Haarlem…by Jan Simon Knikker Jr. (1911-1990). 🖼️
@@BetterTogether-UnIr1 Dank je! Best mooi...!
What a beautiful tribute to our cherished nation. Over the past twenty years, you have witnessed so much. While nothing is perfect, and the The Dutch are known for their candid feedback. Overall, we have accomplished a great deal. I lived abroad myself for quite some time, but I can't stop comparing things to what I am used to. Blessed to be Dutch, although we are far from a religious nation. My second home is Costa Rica. It's the perfect combination for me.
@@viderethevaccinatorfromhol7536 Thank you so much for your comment. Indeed, I have seen a lot over the last 20 years. It’s true that no country or system is perfect. But the Netherlands comes darn close. I am so grateful to be here. Thanks again for watching. 😊
Today healthcare costs are about €7,000 per person/year. The typical monthly premium paid by citizens covers only about 1/3 of that, and the rest is covered via income tax. Furthermore, there is a smaller amount of healthcare, e.g., own risk and not covered medicine and treatments that are not covered by the insurance. Furthermore, most of the dental costs for adults are not covered by the insurance unless citizens pay an extra premium.
Thank you, Karel, for providing some additional information on this subject. Much appreciated. 👍
I can't tell about the difference with other countries because I was born here in The Netherlands 😉
@@vanderquast Lucky duck! 😃
You forget to mention the pigs in their terrible factory situations, an intelligent animal who has a non life and burn regularly in their tiny pens, the cows who never see sunlight or grass, these are also animals with feelings, not just cats or dogs.
There are also lots of other not so good things, which as a Dutch person made me leave the Netherlands
@@hvanderp578 Thank you for raising these issues. Cruelty in all forms (and to all animals) is unconscionable and a hallmark of ignorance. In another video, I have said that “no country is a utopia; no system is perfect. That is because all countries, all systems have one thing in common, and that is people. And as people, we are flawed”. If I may ask, where did you go after leaving the Netherlands, and do you find the grass greener on the other side, as the saying goes?
Because you asked: I am Dutch, and I only started to appreciate the many benefits of living in this country after watching TH-cam video's from people who were born elsewhere, especially in the US and Canada. So thank you for sharing your thoughts. And you're most welcome!
Thanks for your comment. I am glad that I could play a small part in furthering your appreciation of your wonderful homeland.
❤
Very nice video, again...😊
However I would like to add for non-Dutch people: euthanasia is for people who are either deadly ill or beyond the point where they want to continue their lives (fot instance paralysed and no chance of ever being able to live without a whole lot of machinery). It hardly happens and a doctor can refuse at all times. It is a very lengthy process.
Even for our pets, the law changed.
Years ago people could ask for euthanasia for their pet if they could not afford an operation or other reason they deemed important.
Nowadays you will have to sign over your pet and pay a certain amount of money.
Pets are considered like children here, part of the family and that also means medical care. Luckily there is insurance for dogs and cats. My thumbnail show my (deceased) little girl who was very unfortunate with her health. Without the insurance I would never have been able to adopt her. The cost of a pet can be very high.
Party for animals is also (or more) about the bio-industry.
Thanks to them we have animal-police now...and pigs are being sedated before certain parts are being cut off (keeping it civilised here 😂)
By the way I saw your first video that showed more of your lovely small, ' benedenwoning'.
Greetings again...❤
@@annemieke186 Hi Annemieke. 👋 Thank you for the compliment, and thank you for providing more background about euthanasia.
I am sorry that your little girl is gone (I have often admired her photo. What a darling!). I know how hard it is to part with our little loved ones. I recently had to let go of my beloved cat, Stripe, who was 17 years old. Most of my years here, he was with me. I think of him every day. 🐈⬛ Our animal companions are absolutely part of our family and a big part of our hearts. ❤️
I’m glad that you had a glimpse of my little benedenwoning, which dates from 1901. I love living in it. 🏡
Alsjeblieft Mike. Wees geen typische anglo-saxen. Als je 20 jaar in een ander land woont ben je geen expat. Je bent migrant.
Auto's in de VS zijn alleen maar onmisbaar omdat de stadsindeling slecht en autogericht is.
Prima video. Keep - em coming.
Thank you. I stand corrected. In a more recent video, you will note that I refer to myself, correctly, as an immigrant. 😊 th-cam.com/video/3sibMbnKxcw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=OpiFd2C-rV7moH14 You’re right about the design (and scale) of American cities. They are not designed for pedestrians and cyclists, sadly. Thanks again for your comment. 👍
It's not that I disagree with this video but it lacks some nuance. Abortion and euthanasia are strictly regulated.
I think the big difference is religion. While the Dutch try to live with different points of view (religious or not) there is this understanding of the meaning of 'choice'. Nobody's forcing you and the government facilitates your choice. It's difficult to understand and I can understand this view of "freedom". But just the idea you are at work and knowing your cousin is dying at that moment? Or "the moment" being postponed for a week? How to deal with that?
I don't think it's about tolerance but about accepting. Can you have friends with different opinions and agree to disagree? How to deal with personal emotions if some relatives decides to euthanasia? It is still emotional. But with understanding.
@@Wamubodo Thank you for your insight and clarifications. With regard to euthanasia, I only meant to point out that it is an option (which I regard as humane) in the Netherlands. This is, unfortunately, not the case for most of the United States. It is, without a doubt, an emotionally charged choice, as you have noted. I appreciate your feedback. Thank you. 🙏
Are you aware of the History of New Amsterdam/Netherlands and that we owned Manhatten, bought from the Lenape Indians in about 1624, read the books of Russell Shorto.
@@wouterschijf47 Yes, I have read about that. Wasn’t Manhattan traded for Suriname? Something like that, I think.
@BetterTogether-UnIr1 no that was New York (when it was still New Amsterdam)
Alsof ik naar een amerikaan zit te luisteren.
🥳
Alsof ik de reactie van een Nederlander lees. 😊
@@BetterTogether-UnIr1💯😂
Better make a list of things you don't like about our little country... or we are going to need a bigger country 😁
and abut the weather. By now you must know that the Dutch need something to complain about.
@@MrVandype Haha. Actually, I did make a list of things I love less about the Netherlands (the weather made that list, too). There must be two sides to every story, as they say. Thanks for watching, and thanks for your comment. 👍
In Netherlands there is no need to wear anything on your head if you are indoors 😉
Ik draag een muts in huis om stookkosten te drukken. Nodig? Nee. Economisch? Ja.
Dat mag hij zelf bepalen vind ik. Typisch nederlands om zoiets te zeggen trouwens.
😁
Het staat hem goed. Maar blijkbaar mag je dat van jou enkel als artiest op tv of podium
Binnen(shuis) hoor je inderdaad been hoofddeksel te dragen. Maar je, het is zijn huis. Ik had ooit een werkgever die tegen een stageloper zei dat hij toch zijn petje af moest doen.
I should hope you at least are able to speak and understand Dutch. It's called good manners.
Who says he doesn't! The biggest audience on yt understands English and for sure not Dutch.
It's not only good manners, it's essential when you are living in the Netherlands. This guy said that it's easy to be lazy because everyone speaks English, totally disregarding that a lot of Dutch people CAN speak English but really do not WANT to speak it in their free time. Most of the times a conversation will start in English but end in Dutch, because native speakers will always fall back on the language they grew up with.
@williamgeardener2509 YES he said easy to be lazy but who said he doesn't!!!!! Not judging upfront is also a good manner.
@williamgeardener2509that's total nonsense.
I do, thank you, not that it has anything to do with manners.
Expat? You mean immigrant.
The English and Americans can’t be immigrants, you should know that.
Both. Expat (short for expatriot), as in somebody who left his country of origin. Immigrant, as in he came here from abroad, and integrated into Dutch society.
Two sides of the same coin.
@@remcovanvliet3018 “A business expatriate, she says, is a legally working individual who resides temporarily in a country of which they are not a citizen, in order to accomplish a career-related goal (no matter the pay or skill level) - someone who has relocated abroad either by an organisation, by themselves or been directly employed by their host country.”
And
“Immigrants are usually defined as people who have come to a different country in order to live there permanently, whereas expats move abroad for a limited amount of time or have not yet decided upon the length of their stay,”
I mean he’s been living here for more than 20 years and started his life here without a career goal and has Dutch citizenship ship now. That makes you an immigrant and not an expat. Btw, in my opinion there’s nothing wrong with immigration, although I sometimes get annoyed by people from western backgrounds who place themselves above other immigrants by calling themselves expats.
@@remcovanvliet3018 I know what 'expat' means, it's used by white/western/rich people who are uncomfortable with the word 'immigrant'.
There is no real distinction, but the fact that a distinction is made is racist.
@@remcovanvliet3018 Indeed. Perhaps it’s a distinction without a difference. Thanks for your comment. ❤️